Question

What is the molecular structure for each of the following molecules or ions?

a. ${\text{OCl}}_{\text{2}}$

b.${\text{ClO}}_{\text{4}}^{\text{-}}$${\text{ClO}}_{\text{4}}^{\text{-}}$

c.${\text{ICl}}_{\text{5}}$

d.${\text{PF}}_{\text{6}}^{\text{-}}$

Short answer

(a) The molecular structure ${\text{OCl}}_{\text{2}}$of is -

(b) The molecular structure of ${\text{ClO}}_{\text{4}}^{\text{-}}$is -

(c) The molecular structure of ${\text{ICl}}_{\text{5}}$is -

(d) The molecular structure of ${\text{PF}}_{\text{6}}^{\text{-}}$is -

Step-by-step solution

Concept Introduction

A chemist specifies the molecular geometry and, where feasible and essential, the electronic structure of the target molecule or other solid during a chemical structure determination.

Structure of OCl2

(a)

Molecule ${\text{OCl}}_{\text{2}}$has bent molecular geometry. The electron repulsion betweentwo electron pairs is significant and themolecular angle is around $104.5$degrees. The molecular structure is as follows –

Structure of ClO4 - 

(b)

lon ${\text{ClO}}_{\text{4}}^{\text{-}}$, has tetrahedral ion structure because it has four oxygen atoms attached to the central chlorine atom. Allmolecular angles are the same (${\text{109.5}}^{\text{o}}$). In this case, the chlorine atom abandons the octet rule because the chlorine atom has empty $3d$orbital. The molecular structure is as follows –

Structure of ICl5

(c)

Molecule ${\text{ICl}}_{\text{5}}$has square pyramidal molecular geometry. All molecular angles are ${\text{90}}^{\text{o}}$. The molecular structure is as follows –

Structure of PF6 - 

(d)

lon ${\text{PF}}_{\text{6}}^{\text{-}}$, has octahedral ion structure with six fluorine atoms attached to the central phosphorus atom. All molecular angles are${\text{90}}^{\text{o}}$. The molecular structure is as follows –

Therefore, the molecular structures are obtained.